New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-12
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS
THE NEW NAVAL BIDS.
WHY THERE WAS so LITTLE COMPETITION AMoN'
SHIP BUILDERS.

v.surxo1 on Aug. ia correspondent OF IhE ih'"
IKE mot an officer connected with the Navy Dop"iO
,ncnt to-day ana asked him how 1t was 'n'. 49, =.
seemed such lack of competition for the "
,,na the now crul-ors. lie said: "Tneto was NoFS
ut,ls compctition I'm the bids for the new cruisers
ono firm having the field piacucaiy \"
There was really possible chance Vi eoinp'uuon
on what are BY courtesy cded inc department
designs, for cruisers No. and 8. Inc machinery vi
,h.sa d,ssns is nothing more o. less than FAC
sim,,. Of the English machinery Which Is being pun
,,,o .th. baltimore and tn. builders Of the latter
vessel have all the patterns on hand they can VI
course duplicate the machinery at such price a. "
undebid all competitors and at the same time make
largo profit 1t is said That one firm who did not piu
on the cruisers would have put In bid for machinery
OF their design had 1t not been for inc dn"cny
Of getting bondsmen on the contract as Tie inoN'
ousable delay in settling up the accounts OF the
Roach cruisers has made people wnIy about nshipg
their money on vessels built on Government con-
tracts.
"Tbe design on which the bid for the Newark
made Ia said to be exactly the same as that pre-
scented by the same contractor last year, when the
lowest bid exceeded the amount appropriated orthe
rurI osc The lack of competition this year has,
moreover enabled the contractors to put i'll bid ex-
cceding their last years figures by $4,000
"Inqulry at the Navy Department about the pro-
cress of the work the dynamite gunboat was very
unsatisfactory, for some reason or other the OIL
ciols arc very rcticent on the subject hear how
ever that not only has the keel not yet been Iald'
but the ways not even prepared Ihere hNo
Leen rumors that this vessel would not be success
but great deal depends upon what is meant by
.success' There is litue doubt that the required
speed of twenty knots per hour will be attained, as
the trial is to be the measured mile only There
will probably be difficulty in making the speed Tor
this short distance, but it win be no measure Of the
ran six hours the dynamite gunboat Will nun for
three minutes: But rs English, ysu know, , a..
recommended repairs TO the fourth steamer Palos,
ana his quasi-di sapproval of the recommendations fo
vessels In China waters, show how he treats
the advice OF practical men. His excuse for not Of
criticised by Bureau officers. AS for the Paos she
was not intended for man-ofwar but as sort o.
floating barracks for conveying men TO such ports up
the Chinese rivers a. may be In need OF proecuon,
For this work tho raos is well Tilted, on account OF
oirw. The same may be said o.; the Monocacy, which
Is specially adapted for ascending the narrow ana 10
direction equally well as The other ON account
Of Ter construction hot ends being sharp ana eaen
economical sdc-whocl vessel new vessel for this
service world need 10 be duplicate of the Monocacy.
either the Pa'Os or the Monocacy. The real reason
for tho secretary not wanting to eXpend any money
IN vessels out In China is probably, thai ne wants
to keep it all TO "repar his fences at home" with
uext year
GENERAL MILES CONCENTRATING TROOPS.
WASHINGTON Aug. 1O.-Rcports have reached this
city indicating that important movement Is on
foot at and around the San Carlos Agency. About
ago the fourteen renegades from that agency
surrendered there and Immediately afterward court
martial was convened to try five OF them the rest being
set liberty The court came TO finding and trans
mitted proceedings TO General Miles to whom alone
aside from the members of the courhe sentence in each
case is known Before this there had been only one
troop cavalry there, probably fifty strong But since
General Miles received the proceedings OF the court
martial troops have been quietly concentrating at San
Carlos from posts remote from there until now
there are least eleven companies OF cavalry and in
fantry either at San Carlos Agency on the way
thther This concentration OF troops indicates that
40 ne important movement is about to be made II Is
possible that General Miles has received authority to
isarm the san Carlos Indians. perhaps for the purpose
1t be that the sentences OF the court mar
al severe even 10 hanging, and that the pro
ceedings have implicated other Indians who are now
free and that General Miles considers large force nee
essary TO arrest them also, and secure an orderly ta
and peaceabe execution of the sentences.
MILLIONS WANTED FOR THE TEXAs COAST
WASHINGTON, Aug H. Major o. H. Ernst in his an
nual report recommends the appropriation of
So 900 900 years expenditure upon projected
improvements in Galveston harbor, the amount ncces-
sary for the completion OF the works being S6,7O0000
He SAYS present annual trade of S73 100000 and
prospective trade OF vastly greater proportions is ham
pered by obstruction which ii is in the power OF the
Government to The necessity OF the improve
men; is notorious The evil results Of attempting its
removal with inadequate means are almost equally
notorious is submitted that the interests at stake
require that the work should now be undertaken
seriously For the improvement of the ship channel in
Galveston Bay Major Ernst asks an appropriation Of
$4,000 He urges that when the work is once begun
II be pushed through speedy completion and declares
that the expenditure of Inadequate sums will be waste
appropriations: $4,000 for Trinity River, Texas
100000 for Buffalo Bayou, Texas: $4,000 for the
Pass and Bay up tho to a sR Oas
tseo, Texas and 100000 for Pass Cavallo Inlet to
Matagorda Bay, Texas
BONDS OFFERED THE GOVERNMENT.
WASHINGTON, Aug lL-secretary Fsirohild to-day re-
ceived offer from Harvey Fisk Sons, OF New-fork
to sell the Government 25O0O00 OF 4io per cent bonds
at 81 fiat aud offer received from the First
National Bank NewYork Offering 81 49, Az per
ceuts OF These the bonds offered
yesterday 81 1O4 and 81 10 4s100 respectively The
reduction made in consequence OF the secretarys ac
eeptance of the offer of the Suffolk Bank OF Boston at
81 10 fat The Secretary declined both offers and tee
graphod TO Fisk Sons and the First National Bank as
follows:
The plan adopted by the Department for the purchase OF
Government 1onIs aud hereto ore published g5o'ds' only
pursuant 10 sail plan each wednesday at noon. plan
viii be strictly until public is made
Of Offers f can 10 considered until next Wednesday
ADMIRAL LUCE TO RETAIN HIS COMMAND.
WASHINGTON, Aug. lit is reported from Halifax
Admiral Luce is TO be relieved from command OF
the North Atlantic station One story is that he is to be
relieved at his request and another that secretary
Whitney will relieve him upon arrival at Bar Harbor
where both due in a few days Admiral Luce's re-
quest to relieved has been received at the Navy
Department and Secretary Whitney this afternoon de-
MED that there is any truth in the story. IL Is known
that vessels of the North Atlantic had intended end
Ing their cruise at Bar Hsrbor, and there is nothing
significant i'll that fact.
THE PRESIDENTS CONTEMPLATED TRIP.
WASHINGTON, Aug. lit is about definitely deter
mined that President will leave Washington the last
week in September and 60 directly to ST. Louis probably
by way Of indianapolis. He will spend two days at
St. Louis and from there to Chicago Milwaukee. Mad
ison ST. Paul. Minneapolis Omaha. Kansas City, Mem
phs Nashville and Atlanta reaching the latter place In
time his engagement for October 10. He will
- l llaa.. 4 -. - .. IL .i.. 1911